Identities Of Anti-Referendum Campaigners Released

The identities of individuals who were arrested distributing anti-referendum posters among the people in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathidaung Townships have been released. The protesters were arrested by Nasaka forces over three days from 7 to 9 May and are currently being detained and interrogated at Nasaka headquarters.

A source said some individuals were arrested as they were distributing the movie posters among the public, while others were arrested while transporting the posters to various locations for distribution.

Among those arrested are 29 people from Buthidaung, 10 from Rathidaung, and 9 from Maungdaw Township, and most are Muslim. Four Muslim women are among the arrestees.

The source also added that some were arrested during the night in southern Maungdaw Township as they were entering Burma from Bangladesh with the anti-referendum posters across the Naff River on board boats.

Nasaka forces seized three large posters and 102 small posters from the individuals, but the source did not elaborate on what anti-referendum statements or markings the posters contained.

May 12, 2008